Portret van Joachim de Buschere, secretaris in de Raad van Brabant 1603

Curator: Here we have a 1603 engraving, “Portret van Joachim de Buschere, secretaris in de Raad van Brabant,” by Wierix, currently held in the Rijksmuseum. De Buschere was secretary to the Council of Brabant, serving under Archdukes Albert and Isabella. Editor: Okay, first impression: that is one serious ruff! It looks so crisp, like a meringue. He's got the whole vibe down, that austere, controlled energy of the era. It's almost comical now. Curator: The ruff collar certainly makes a statement. As secretary to the Council of Brabant, part of the Habsburg Netherlands, de Buschere played a key role. Think of the layers involved: his identity, his allegiance to the Habsburgs in a time of conflict, and the meticulous detail of his portrayed status. Editor: Right! It is all very calculated. You know, if he didn’t have the beard I feel like he’d look a lot more soft… that facial hair gives a totally different meaning and look to the overall engraving. It really is striking how the lines, light, and shadow create form with just simple pencil work. Curator: Precisely. And notice the lettering around the oval frame? The inscription confirms his position, solidifying his authority within the power structure of the time. We're looking at not just an individual, but a representative of Habsburg authority, embedded in a specific historical, social, and political framework. Editor: True. But there’s also this intimacy, because it's an engraving. I find it very approachable somehow. His stare meets mine, almost like he is thinking or reflecting too. The detail pulls you into his world – a world of elaborate collars and intense allegiances. Curator: Perhaps we are both drawn to the intensity. This portrait tells us so much about status and hierarchy, but perhaps we also glimpse, maybe, the quiet ambition in the face of someone holding a position of real power in the Netherlands at that moment. Editor: Absolutely. The combination of social standing and private introspection; it makes for a lasting image, doesn’t it?